Automatic closing device for windows



15, 1931. w. J. wEEsNl-:R I 1,836,093 Au'rouATIc CLOSING DEVICE FOR wINDows I Eped'April 14, 1930 A INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 f WALKER J. msm; oF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANAv l AUTOMATIC oLosrNefDEvIon ron WrNDoWs `A.aprilie-,moml mea Apri; 14,v

This invention relates to an automatic clos-V ing device for ywindows and particularly' tof a. deviceautomatically responsive to the ap il by a fire in vana-djacent building.

K The 'principal object of the invention 1s to provide a device which will 'automatically close the windows of a building when the imi mediately adjacent building is on iireithere-` 10 bylgiving a measure ofl fire protectionto the building wherein the device is installed by retarding'the spread offire' 'from withinv or without. The device is particularly adapted for use with so-called double hung` windows. Y The principal feature ofthe invention 'con'-V sists in theprovision of weightsheld in placey by a fusiblemember and adapted to drop when the'fsaid member is fused, by heat. In the rdropping of the weights, both sashes are moved simultaneously to the closed'position" irrespectiveV of the vinitial position Yof the sashes. l A

Another feature of the invention'fresides in the provision of an effective and lconven- -ient means-for returning the said weights to their initial position after being operated to closethe windows. i Y Y y Another feature of the invention' resides in the provision of a lspecialtool adapted to return the weights to initial position andto maintain the yweights in that position pendfinor the' application ofa new fuse member.

- ther objects and features of the invention will beundersto'od from the accompa nying drawings and theqfollowing descripf tion and claims: v

. Fig. 1 is an elevationalview of a .window and window frame with parts removed to show the operating mechanismfor closing the window in detail. The said figurerepresents the elevation ofthewindow inside Vof the building. Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are horizontal sectional views taken onY the lines 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and 5--5 of Fig. 1 respectively. Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a preferred form vof fusible member. y Fig. 7 is an elevational view vof a member attachedV tothe inner side of the window frame for use -with the special tool heretofore mentioned. Fig.

plicationof heat, such as might be occasioned bracket 20. A similar cord 21 is also fas;

. by'any 1930.` serial no. 444,075. l 1

8 isa perspective vkview ofsaidtool. 9 is anend view thereof.l l 'i `lIn the drawings ,a Window framelO, pref;l erably of metallic construction, carries auf `upper sash llfand alowerfsash 12., At thef upper corner of thej sash '11' is attafchedfa metallic cord. or chain 13 passingfover a pulley 14 andcarrying atlits lowerendasa'sh Weight 15.l YAsimilar-cord'orchain 16 is' attached to theupper corner of the lower sash` 12.V Y VThejcord '16 lpavssesfofver a pulley and a pulley- 18 and carries at its `lower end'asash weight 119. he said cord is preferably fastened tothe weight 19 by meansof an odset;A

tened tothe bracketl20'andpassesupwardly loverapulley 2 2 and thendownwardly. The lower end ofsaidcord carries-a weight 23.

The saidvcords, pulleysiand weights are contained in a suitablev cavity iny the I lefthand weightpocketof the window frame-10 and an exactly similar construction is `preferably placed within therighthandv weight vpocket y ofjrs'aid frame.l i A T-shaped memberOfis, t suitablyy supported within the ,frameand acts` as a guide to prevent interference of fthe weights with each other, I v ,"fjff It will be noticedthatlthe weights 19 and 23 act upon the cord 21 in opposite direction f. so that the raising ,of one,lowers ,the other.- 80 The weight l23 is chosen A' to befjust heavyV enough tof remove any slack from the. cord 21. The weights 19are1made 'suiiciently i i heavy to Acounterballan'oe the' weight vofthe',V lower sashandthat of .theweights 23 as well.'y By means' of thisjar'rangement, when the lower sashis' in its normally lowered position, the weights 23will be in their lowermost position. Vhen the lower Sash 12: is raised, the weights 23 are likewise, raised. y There, 90 fore, if theweights 23 are downwardly pulled y means, the vlower sash 12 Awill be low-iv ered toits normal position.

, Infthe upper panel or header'v box'vof` y window frame 10, there `is located .a drum" 24 having attached thereto a metallicfcord or chain V25 extending to `the left in Fig?. .1 and a similar cord or chain26 extending to the ri2'ght. rlhecord125 passesvover apulleyf27r and carries at its downward end anaux- ,100

iliary weight 28.y The said weight is positioned directly above the weights and 23 ered to their normal closed position from any position in which they mayhappen to be. The drum 24 is carried upon a shaft 29 supported upon suitable bearings and-3l car-'- ried byl the innerand Vouter members respec- Atively/fof the window frame, 10.v Oneend 32 ofthe said shaft projects through the outer side ofthe frame 10 and is squared .as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. A member 33 is provided with a fusible central portion 34 hav-y` ing a? squared opening adapted to'y engagethe squaredend'32 of the shaft. The member 33 Y. also ,engages `pins'35 which yare carriedby the said window frame 10. Cotterpins 36 I be used for maintainingthe said memberinposition. VByv this construction, the weight ofthe weights 28 continually tends to rotate'the drum 24. Such rotation is prevented by the engagement of the squared end of 2theshaft 29 with the fusible portionf34.

IfI a predetermined degree of heat is ap-y plied to'the said 'fusible portion by the burn-` ing of an adjacent building, themeltingfof said portionallowstheshaft 29'to rotate and consequently drops the .Weights 28 upon weights 15 and l23 to close the window.

'- The inner @nestor the Sima 29 is like; Y

Vwisesqua'red and passes through an opening o inthe inner niemberof the frame 10 and also through va toothed openingv38 in amember 39 f suitably l:fastened to the Window frame 10. For returning the Weights 28 to their normal ``position 'after' the same have lbeen operated` to olosevthewindow, a tool 42'is provided. Thejsaid tool'is in the form of a crank havingvat one end a cylindrical portion 43 containing a rectangular opening 44 adapted to engage the squared end 37 of shaft 29. The

Vcylindrical portion 43 is of the proper size to` enter'the opening 38 and carries 'spring-Y pressed projections 45 adapted' to engage the teeth v 41 formed upon the ed'geof said-opening. To' return the weights 28 to their normal position, the member 33 containing the fusible portion 34,which has been destroyed,

' isA iirst removed. The tool 42 is then engaged with the'end 37 of the shaft 29 andv is rotated tolift the Weights 278. During this Voperation, the engagement of the projections 45 the 'teeth 41 prevent reverse rotation of Ythe drum? 44 and consequent dropping' of the'weights.: When the Weights have been elevated'to thedesired position, the tool 42 leftl in place toprevent dropping thereof until a new fusible member has been placed in position on the opposite end of theshaft 29. The tool 42 may then be withdrawn and the device isready for another operation.

It is to be appreciated that numerous departures from the details of the apparatus herein described may be madey Without departing from the broader aspects of theinvention as defined by the following" claims.

The invention claimed is: I 1. The combination of a window sash, ra Weight connected to said sashk in such manner as to close said sash when said Weight is lowered, a second Weight positioned above said Vfirst-'mentioned weight, a support for said secondweight, and heat responsive ineansfor releasing' 'said support); tov'allowV dropping of said second weight fuponlsaidA rst' weight whereby saidv windowl sash will be closed. 2; rlhe combination of a'windovir sash, a

Weight connected to saiolwindow IsashAfS'o vthat saidsash isclosed when'saidweight isflow; ered, `a second weight positioned' aboVesaid first-mentioned weight, anda fusible"V member supporting said'second Weight whereby fusion of said member vallows said second weightto fall'upon said first weight to close said window sash.

' 3. fTh'e combination of awindow, a'uireighti` a'support for said weight, means forreleas``A Ving said support to allow droppingjof said weight,fconnecting means betweenv said weight and said window whereby dropping of' said weight closes said window, means for returning'said Weight to its'initial position after said closing, and mechanical means for maintaining'said weightk in the ,initial position'during readjustmentjoi1 vsaid support andsaid releasing means.

'4Q Thelcombination of'a wi dow', aweight, a support for said weight,fmeans 'for releas ing said 'support rto allow vdropping of said Weight', 'connecting means between' said weight and said Ywindow Whereby'dropping of saidweight closes said window, ai 'cord attached to'said weight, a winding drum upon which the said cord may be wound to return said weight to normal position,V ar toothed member, and atool adapted toengage said winding drum for vrotation thereof in the, dij rection to raise vsaid lweight' and to engage said toothed member to prevent rotation' in theo posite direction.VV

'5.' n combination with a window having an upper and lower sash, aweight connected `with saidl upper sash in such manner as vto raise the same when said 'weightis lowered,

asecond weight connected with said lower l sash in 'such'.mannersas 'to lowerthe same when said' weight islowered, a third weight positioned above said first and `second' weights, and heat-responsive means for re,- leasing said support to allow' dropping of said third weight upon'said first landgsec'ond weights to closesaid window. y Y,

6. In combination with a window having an upper and lower sash, a weight connected with said upper sash in such manner as to raise the same when said weight is lowered, a second weight connected with said lower sash in such manner as to lower the same when said' weight is lowered, a third weight, and a fusible member supporting said third weight whereby fusion of said member allows said third weight to fall upon said first and second weights to close said window.

7. The combination of a window, aweight, a support for said weight, means for releasing said support to allow dropping of said weight, connectin means between said weight and said window wherebypdropping of said weight closes said window,xa cord attached to said weight, a winding drum upon which the said' cord may be wound to return said weight to normal position, a re-` movable ratchet tool for rotating said drum in the direction to raise said weight, and av toothed member Xedly suported in position to engage said ratchet tool to prevent dropping of said weight until said tool has been,`

removed.

8. The combination of a window frame, a d

window carried thereby, a weight, connecting means between said weight 'and said window y whereby dropping ofsaid weight closes` said p window, a cord attached to said weight, a#

winding drum upon which said cord may be wound' to return said weight to normal .position, a shaft for said winding drum havingv flattened sides at one end, a fusible memberv .l having an opening closely tting the said end of the shaft for preventing rotation of said i drum and dropping of said weight until said member is fused, and a holder for said fusible member detachably mounted on said window frame. l

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature. f Y WALKER J WEESNER. 

